Teat-cup for milking-machines.



Patented Mar. 10, 1914,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FIG-7.2.

u a n h 6 f m 7 3 Q m k F 10 a II 8 L F n U W/ 74 635585 I/YVE/VTOR mag aw ZX MM a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

J. L. HULBERT.

TEAT CUP FOR MILKING MACHINES.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 1, 1912. 1,089,838.

Fla. 4.

W/T/VESSES.

J. L. HULBERT. THAT CUP FOR MILKING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1,1912

3 SHEETS-BHEIIT 3.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

UN ED STATES rarENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. HULBERT, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR TO THE DE LAVAL SEPARATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TEAT-CUP FOR MILKING-MACHINES.

T n71 whom it in (11 concern Be it known that 1, JOHN L. Hrnmzn'r, a citizen of the United States. residing at Poughkeepsie, county of Dutchess, and State of New York. have invented a new and useful Tmprovement in Tent-(ups for h'lilking- Machines. of which the following is a full, clear. and exact. description. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to machines for extracting milk from cows and transferring it to a milk receptacle and particularly to teat cups for use in connection with such machines.

One of the objects of my invention is to support the teat throughout its entire length in such manner as to prevent expansion of the milk passage through the teat and also dilation and congestion of the end of the t at. which would otherwise cause soreness.

Another object is to cause the cup to assume its proper position on the teat.

Another object is to provide for the automatic adjustment of one size of cup to a wide range of lengths. diameters and shapes of teats.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a cup so constructed and so combined with a suitable pulsator that. simultaneously with the application of considerable pressure to the upper portion of the teat close to the udder. there is an application of a lesser pressure to the remaiir (tier of the teat. thereby etfecting. or matcrially contributing to. th attainment of the first recited object of my invention.

The teat .cup hereinafter described. which constitutes a preferred embodiment of my invention, is adapted to be connected with pulsators of a known type. and is more particularly adapted for connection with the pulsators set forth in certain patents heretofore issued to me. namely. Patent No. 1.070.134. dated August 1). 1913. Patent No. 1.010.135. dated August 12. 191?). and Patent No. 1.043.012"). dated Oct obcr l- 1912. in which machines. the interior of theteat cup is con stantly under and in coinmunication with a source of suction and the inflatable cushion surroumling the teat alternately connected with pressure and exhaust.

In the drawings: Figure 1. is a side elevation of my improved teat. cup. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of same showing the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 1, 1912.

Patented Mar. 10, 19.14.

Serial No. 700,951.

cushion deflated. Fig. 3 is a face view of the valve controlling one of the air passages in the fitting. Fig. 4 is a Sectional view of a pulsator connected with two teat cups. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5-5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a partial section showing outlet from milk chamber to milk receptacle. Fig. 7is a section on the line 7--7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Fig.

2. with the cushion inflated.

In the teat cup embodying my invention, especially when operated as hereinafter described. the pressure around the lower portion of the teat. during compression of the base or upper portion thereof, is just sutiicient. to prevent the expansion of the lower portion of the teat.

My improved teat cup consists of a flexible cup proper (1. a rigid outer shell I), a cushion c. a rigid cap (7. a flexible mouthpiece and a fitting g. all arranged and connected as hereinafter described.

The cup proper a is made of soft rubber or similar material and surrounds the entire teat. The upper part. is made thin so as to be readily compressed around the teat. The lower part is given a greater thickness. thus making it stiff enough to be nearly self-sup porting under ordinary conditions of opera- From the lower end. the extension 71 forms a tube leadm toward the milk receivtion.

ing chamber 10 hereinafter described.

The rigid outer shell I) is. for considera tions of lightness and cleanliness, preferably made of aluminum. though other materials may housed. The shell 7; has a bottom flange against which the ring 0 on the cup its and an upper flange around which the thin upper end of the cup 0 is drawn and then fastened by forcing on the cap (I. The shell I) also has openings for the nipples IL and 71. It protects the rubber parts from injury. provides an exterior support. for the cushion c. and forms the outer wall of the chamber The cushion c is made of rubber or similar material and may be in the form of a bag 3 surrounding the cup (I and having the ends lapped or of such other form as may be found satisfactory. It is secured in place by means of the nipple l1 lurrembefore mentioned.

the cup at tothe shell and to support it so that the pressure dueto expansion-of the cushion 0 cannot stretch it too far or tear itloose fromthe shell.

'The mouthpiece e is made of rubber or similar flexible material and serves to seal the upper end of the cup around the teat and prevent the leakage of air at this point. It also prevents thecont-act of metal parts with the teat or udder. Such contacts have been found injurious in some cases. The fitting g, likethe shell 6 and cap (I, and-for the same reasons, is preferably made of aluminum. It comprises the nipples h and .h hereinbefore mentioned, both of which are screwed into the body '9 of the fitting and have respectively the passages-i and 7c.

, to passage Z to prevent the return of air to' These passages communicate at their outer ends with avertical. passage jl formed in the body of the fitting and at their inner 'ends with the cushion c and chamber 1 respectively. m is a flap-valve normally closing communication bet-ween passages in and Z, adapted toopen outward toward passage Z to permit air to be exhausted from the chamber but adapted to close upon admission of pressure the chamber. I

In order that my invention may be understood without reference to my prior patents, I have illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 one of the pulsators shown in certain of said patents, it being understood that the details of such puls'ator are not essential to the emwbodiment of the invention herein claimed.

' casing 11, the same connecting with the pipe The pulsator comprises, in general, the milk receiving chamber 10 and the valve casing 111]. 12 is the outlet from the milk receiving c amber leading to a'milk receptacle (not shown). The pipe 12 is constantly under suction tending to produce a vacuum or partial vacuum in the milk receiving chamber 10, in the extension n, and in the interior of the teat cups. 13 is a passage in the valve i Z. The valve comprises the valve proper 14 and the hollow valve stem 15. The valve stein has a slotted portion 16 through whichextends a. pin 17 connected with the valve proper 14. 18 is aninlet to the valve'casing .from any source of pressure supply. The

with the exhaust port 23. 24 and 25 are communicating passages in the valve proper.

The valve stem 15 doesnotmake a close fit in the lower part of the valve casing 11 but 1,oee,ess

leaves a constricted annular passage 26' 27 is a diaphragm chamber having therein the diaphragm 28.. In the lower portion of the diaphragm chamber is a puppet valve 29 phragm causes it to lift, lifting-the hollow valve stem 15 with which it is connected.

-The stem 15 lifts until the slotand pin connection between it and-the valve proper 14 causes. the latter tolift also. This brings passages, 25 and 24' in communication with the source of pressure supply -and passage 25 in connection witlf the passages 13 con-. necting with the pipes Z, into which a1r under pressure is thus admitted, with theresultantoperation upon the teat cups hereinafter described. At the same time, through passages 25 and 24 air under pressure is admitted beneath the .valvc, causing it to quickly complete its movement to the top. I

Through the constricted passage 26 pressure is also slowly'admitted to the diaphragm chamber above the v diaphragm 28, which, with the valve stem 15, is forced down slowly, the movement being partly resisted, by thecompression of air'belowthe diaphragm 28. During the downward movement of the'valve stem 15 the upper end of the slot- 16 strikesthe pin 17 at the instant that the port 21 registers with the passage '22. It then carries with 'it' the valve proper 14. hen the passage 22 registers with the port 23 the compression in the space below the diaphragm 28 is relieved through the hollow stem 15, the port 21, the passage 22 and. the port 23. A very slight further movement of the valve 14 coversthe groove 19 and cuts off the supply of compressed air; but the expansion of the air inthe space above the diaphragm 28 completes the move ment-of the diaphragm and, by the. valve stem 15 and pin 17, carries the valve proper -14 to the posltion where groove 25 communl- "'cateswith passage 20." The airfrom below the valve 14 escapes to the vacuum through passages 24-a'nd.20, themilk chamber 10 and the passage 12. Atmospheric pressure, acting on the top ofvalve 14, completes'the valve movement and connects the pipe Z, through the passage 13, groove and pasteatcups hereinafter described. The valve sage 20, with themilk chamber 10 and ex- -haust,. with the resultant 'op'erationupon the is now in the original position and the cycle of operations is repeated.

7 To understand the operation of the teat cup, it may be assumed that the passage 2 is connected with the pulsator hereinbefore described, in which case the pipe Z would be alternately connected with pressure and exhaust while the milk discharge from the tube n. would be in constant communication with a source of suction but would receive pressure fluid once in each cycle of operations of the pulsator. It will be understood, therefore, that, after each teat is placed in a cup,-the vacuum is turned on, and thereafter the tube )1 is always, during operation, in communication with the vacuum. .\t the time adjustment, the passage Z is also connected with the vacuum. .\s the inside of the cup 11. and the chamber f are both in COlllll'lltlllCtltion with the vacuum, the pressures are balanced and the cup retains its natural shape, allowing the teat to be drawn down into the cup by the vacuum. The passage Z is now disconnected from the vacuum and connected with a source of pressure. The valve m closes and prevents the pressure reaching the chamber 7 while the passages and i are open and freely admit the pressure to the cushion c, filling it and causing the upper portion of the cup to collapse and compress the upper portion of the teat. The expan sion of the cushion 0 drives all air remaining in the upper portion of thetchamber f downward and so causes a. pressure on the lower part of the teat. It will be clearly seen that this pressure, though much lower than that of the cushion 1., will be higher than that inside of the cup a, whiclris in communication with the vacuum of greater intensity than at the time of exhaust of chamber f, as will be hereinafter explained. The heavy pressure around the upper portion of thc'teat drives the milk out of this portion. Because of the pressure on the lower portion of the teat, the milk passage cannot swell. and the milk must. pass out of the teat into the cup and from there through the tube n to the milk receptacle. The passage Z is now disconnected from the source of pressure and is again connected with the source of vacuum and the tube a. The pressure immediately escapes from cushion 0 until it and also that in chamber approximates the vacuum inside the cup (I; but be cause of the hindrance to escape of air offered by the frictional resistance of the pipes leading to the milk pail and their obstruction by milk the vacuum is, at this time, less than that of the source of suction. Nero it not for this condition the pressure in f during the compression part of the cycle might be too small to obtain the results desired. Even if, during the compression part of the cycle there should not be an absolute increase of pressure in the chamber .f, still there IS an lncrease in such pressure relatively to that within the cup, due to the con ditions above explained. All flexible parts now assume their natural positions, the teat is again drawn into the cup a by the vacuum and the cycle is repeated. A point of great importam'e which should be here noted, is, that the same pressure which prevents the expansion of the milk passage through the teat also prevents the dilation and congestion of the end of the teat which would otherwise cause soreness.

The air escaping from cushion c performs several functions. 1st. The escape allows the collapse of the cushion and the expansion of the cup (0 ready tor the movement of the teat as previously described. 2nd. .lart ot' the air escapes directly to the milk pail through the pulsator and milk discharge pipe. 3rd. Because of a partial obstrturtion of the milk pipe, by milk, making a resistance to the instantaneous tlou' ol the'air to the milk pipe. at variable portion of the air passes through tube n to the cup (4 and pro' duces pulsations in the vacuum at this point. It also makes a variation in the mean intensity ot the vacuum in the cup. H the cow gives her milk t'reely, the obstruction in the pipe is great, and the air escapes to the pail slowly, causing a reduction in vacuum at the pulsator and cup. .\t the same time, because of the slow flow of air to tlge pail, a large proportion of the air goes to the cup, causing a great amplitude of pulsation. It the How of milk is slight, the milk discharge pipe is eom mratively unobstructed, and the air from the cushions flows to the pail almost instantaneously, and little or almost no air goes to the cup. This results in a higher mean vacuum at the pulsator and cup and also a lesser amplitude of pulsation in the vacuum. in fact, with heavy flows of milk the maximum vacuum at the cup is less than twt'i-thirds that at the milk pail and the amplitude of pulsation is from about atmospheric pressure to the said maximum vacuum. \Vith very slight flow of milk, as when stripping, the maximum vacuum is practically equal to that in the milk pail, while the amplitude of pulsation is often so slight as to be almost a continuous suction.

Vhile have hereinbefore spoken. of a vacuum ",I adopt thatterin forp'urposes of. convenience, and mean thereby to cover any degree of pressure less than that of the atmcsphere. While I have also spoken of increasing the pressure .upon the outside of that part of the cup adapted to surround the lower portion of the teat during the application of pressure to the base of the teat, I do not mean to limit myself to an actual increase of the pressure within the space around the lower part of the cup, but mean to include any condition, including an ab-' solute diminution of such pressure. provided such pressure increases relatively to the pressure within the cup.

From the foregoing description of the operation of my improved teat cup, it will be understood that it is especially adapted carry An'ion'g the minor, but important, features I of my improved teat cup is the manner in which the flexible cup 0; fits against the for use in connection with the pulsatordescribed in my'applicati'ons for patent hereinbefore enumerated and to more effect vely No. 1,043,013. I do not, however, confine myselfi to the use of any particular type of pulsator in connec tion with my im roved teat cup, as. the samemay be foun to be capable of use in connection with pulsators of a different type. It is also possible to use my improved teat cup, or certain novel combinations of features embodied therein, in such a way as that it shall'have a mode of operation somewhat different from that described lower end of the rigid shell 6. If, for any reason, such as the failure of valve m to' close properly, or leakage from cushion 0,the pressure in the chamber 7 becomes greater than atmospheric, the ring 0 will be forced away from the shell and allow'the excess pressure to escape, thus preventing injury to the cup 7 or discomfort to the cow.

I do not herein claim the process of mechanical1y milking hereinbefore described that may be carried out by .the use of the hereinide'scribed construction,'as such process forms the subject-matter of an applica-'- tion filed by me March-29, 1913, Serial No Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim and desire to protect by Letf tersPatent is a 1. In a milking machine, a teat cup comprising a flexible cup adapted to surround and support substantially the whole teat, and means to intermittently apply, a pres sure upon the outside of that part of the cup adapted to surround thebase' of the teat, and inunisontherewith, a lesser presthroughout the squeezing pressure uponthe' sure upon the outside of that part of the .cup adapted to surround the remainder of the teat, thereby maintaining a supporting pres.-

sure upon the lower portion ofthe teat base of the teat. v g

2. In a milking machine, ateat cup com prising a flexible cup adapted to surround and support substantially the Whole teat,

and means intermittently and simuItaneously to ap'plya pressure upon theoutside of that part of the cup adapted to surround the base of the teat and to diminish the pressure within the cup.

out the process set forth in Patentmove pressure of a lesser degree uponvthat part of the cupadapted to surround the remainder of the teat.

glgIn a milking machine, a teat cup comprising a fiexible'cup adapted to surround and, support substantially the whole'of the teat, and means to intermittently increase the pressure upon the outside of that part of thc cup adapted to surround the base of the teat and, during only said increase, to increase the pressure to a lesser degree upon l taneously therewith apply, maintain and re- '65 the outside of-that part of the cup adapted I l tosurround the remainder of the teat.

In a milking machine, a teat cup comprising a flexible cup adapted to surround and support substantially the whole teat, an inflatable and deflatable cushlon surrounding the upper portion of said flexible cup, and means simultaneously to inflate the cushion and to diminish the pressure within the cup relatively to the-pressure outside the cupbcloiv the cushion.-

(3. In a milking machine, ateat cup comprising a flexible cup adapted to surround and support substantially the whole of the teat, and means to intermittently increase the pressure upon the outside of that part of the cup adapted to surround the base of 'the teat and during'only said increase to increase to a lesser degree the pressure upon the outside, relative to that on the inside, O-f' 'tl1e portion 01E the cup 'adaptedto surround the remainder of "the teat,-and alternately therewith to deflate the cushion and simultaneously therewith increase the pres surerwithin'th'e-cup. i I

7L In a milking machine, 'a teat cupcom-- prising hliexibl'e cup adapted to surround and support substantially the .whole .teat, an inflatable and deflatable cushion surrounding the upper portion of the flexible cup, a shell surrounding'the flexiblecup and lnclosmg; the cushlon, and "means slmultanethe pressure within the cup relativelyto the pressure between the cup and shell.

- 8. In amilkingfmachine, ateat cup coini prisinga flexible cup adapted tosurroundi and support substantially the Whole teat, and means to establish a, partial vacuum within the cup and intermittently to apply a pressure upon the outside of that part of the cup adapted tosurround the base of the teat and simultaneously therewith to increase the degree of vacuum within the cup.

' ou'sl yto inflate the cushion and to diminish S). A teatgcup for-milking machines 'comprising a flexible cup havingarelativelywideupper portion adapted to surround the the cup. q

1.0. A teat cup for milking machines comprising a fiexible cup adaptedv to surround teat and tapered toward its lower end, and

cushion surrounding the'upper portion of and support substantially the whole teat and tapered from its upper ortion toward its lower end, an inflatab e and deflatable cushion surrounding the upper portion of said flexible cup, and a shell surrounding said flexible cup and inclosing the cushion. 11. A teat cup for milking machines, comprising an inflatable cushion adapted to surround the base of the teat, and a cup comprising a relatively short upper portion surrounded by 'the cushion and having a relatively thin and flexible walland a relatively long lower portion extending below the cushion andhaving a relatively thick and stiff wall,

12. In a milking machine, a teat cup comprising an outer shell, an inner flexible cup, .a cushion between the. shell and cup near that part of the same adapted to surround the base of the teat, and means to intermittently inflate the cushion, whereby the pres sure between the shell and cup will be increased during inflation of the cushion and thereby create a limited pressure upon that part of the cup beyondthe cushion.

13. In a milking machine, a teat cup comprising an outer shell, an inner flexible cup, a cushion between the shell and cup near that part of the same adapted tosurround the base of the teat, means to maintain a low pressure between the shell and cup, and means to intermittently inflate the cushion, thereby intermittently compressing the air between the cup and shell.

- 14. In a teat cup for milking machines, a flexible cup adapted to surround and support substantially the whole teat, a shell surrounding the cup, a hollow cushion withinthe shell and surrounding the upper portion 40 of said flexible cup, and means affording a passage connected with the interior of the cushion and extendingthrough the shell, whereby when the passage is connected with supply orexhaust and the cushion thereby inflated or deflated, the pressure in the chamber between the shell and cup will increase or decrease due to the resultant decrease or increase in thevolume of said chamber.

15. In a milking machine, a teat cup comprising a holldw cushion adapted to surround the base of the teat and a flexible cup adapted to surround the remainder of the teat, and means permitting the simultaneous deflation of the cushion and reduction of pressure outside said cup, and alternately therewith, the simultaneous inflation of the cushion and increase of pressure outside said CUP. 16;. In a milking machine, a teat cup comprising a flexible cup surrounding the entire length of the teat and a hollow cushion adapted to suround said flexible cup at that portion which incloses'the base of the teat,

and means permitting the simultaneous deflation of the cushion and reduction of pressure outside said cup,and alternately therewith, the simultaneous inflation of the rushion and increase 0t pressure outside said cup, I

LT. In a milking machine, a teat cup comprising a flexible cup adapted to surround and. support substantially the whole teat,

that part of the cup ada ted to surround the portion of the teat at tl ie base possessing a relatively high degree of flexibility so as to be readily compressed around the teat and that portion of the cup adapted to surround the portion of the teat below the base adapted to collapse by diflerenti pressure applied to the inside and outside or" said. portion of cup to a degree suflicient to prerent dilation of the teat and not to shut ofl.

the flow of milk, and means including a dilatable hollow cushion surrounding the upper portion only of the cup, adapted to rompress the part of the cup adapted to surround the base of the teat and cause the establishment of said differential pressure.

18. In a milking machine, in combination, a flexible cup adapted to surround and support substantially the whole teat, and means, including an inflatable cushion surrounding that portion'of the cup at the base of the teat, for producing such difference in pressure between the inside and the outside of the cup that said cup will be compressed around the teat sufficiently to prevent dilation of .the teat or expansion of the milk passage through same and yet not enough to stop the flow of milk.

19. In a milking machine, in combination, a flexible cup adapted to surround and support substantially the whole teat, an inflatable cushion surrounding that portion of the cup at the base of the teat, means to alternately inflate and deflate the cushion, means permitting, simultaneously with the deflation of the cushion a balance low pressure outside the cup over that inside t e cup,

suflicient to compress the teat to. a degree preventing its dilation orexpansion of the milk passage but not suflicient to stop the 20. In a milking machine, infcombination, a flexible cup adapted to surround and support substantially the whole teat, an inflatable cushion surrounding that portion of the cup at the base of the teat, means to alternately inflate and deflate the cushion, means permitting, simultaneously with the deflation of the cushion, a balance low pressure inside and outside the cup, thereby allowing the teat to be drawn down into the cup,

, tiers of the cushion and shell and containing ja passagecommunlcatin with both nipples and compr sing'also a c leek-valve between said passage and the nipple communicating with the interior of the shell.

In a milking machine, in combination, a rlgid shell, a flexible cup therein adapted to surround and. support substantially the 1,oee,eee

whole teat, an inflatable cushion surrouinling that portion of the cup at the base of the-teat, means to alternately inflate and deflate the cushion, means permitting, si-

multaneously with the deflation of the-cushion, a balancevlow pressure inside and outsidethe cup, thereby allowing the teat to be drawn down into the, cup, and permitting,

in the space between the rigid shell and the flexible cup, simultaneously with theinflation of the cushion, a pressure higher than that within the cup but lower than that in the inflated cushion. 4 I

-In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at New York, on this 29th day of May, 1912. I JOHN "L. HULBERT.

"Witnesses:

RoY H. S'roDnAnn, ROBERT H. KEEP, 

